Leaf curl disease of Capsicum annuum and its impact on secondary metabolites

Abstract

Leaf curl disease of Capsicum annuum has been recognized serious problem, wherever crop is grown. Experiment was designed to observe the leaf curl incidence and biochemical changes in infected and healthy plants of nine cultivars. The lowest leaf curl incidence was recorded 2.27% and highest 85.83%. The chlorophyll content were found highest in healthy leaves (0.684 mg g-1) then infected leaves(0.511 mg g-1).Whereas, total phenol content was significantly lowest in leaf curl infected leaves (5.582 mg g-1) as compared to healthy leaves (7.544 mg g-1). The average total tannin content was observed significantly higher in healthy leaves (4.028 mg g-1) as compared with infected leaves (3.128 mg g-1). Out of nine cultivars total phenol (9.905 mg g-1) and tannin (5.27 mg g-1) contents were found maximum in Gucchedar.